First Night’s Battle of the Bands at the ‘New’ Connie Bean Community Center

Thursday

Nov 1, 2012 at 3:15 AM

PORTSMOUTH — Pro Portsmouth’s First Night celebration will feature a Battle of the Bands at a venue that is both old and new.

The First Night BOTB takes place at the new Connie Bean Community Center on Parrot Avenue and according to Pro Portsmouth’s Executive Director, it feels like a bit of back to the future. “For years, we featured up and coming bands at the Middle School Gym,” notes Barbara Massar. “When we brought that element back to First Night in 2010, the school’s gym was not an option, so we set up our Battle of the Bands at the Connie Bean. Now for 2012, we’ll be at the new Connie Bean which is part of the Recreation Department’s facility on Parrot Avenue – perfect.”

The loss of the Connie Bean on Daniel Street as a gathering place for community is of great concern to Massar. “If you’ve been a part of our events — First Night, Children’s Day and Market Square Day — you know that the Connie Bean on Daniel Street was an integral site for us. But we move forward and we’re grateful that the City is allowing us to utilize the new facility on Parrot Avenue.”

On Dec. 31st the first group will take to the stage at 8 p.m. Interested up and coming bands need to complete the BOTB Performance Application available at http://www.proportsmouth.org/battleofthebands.cfm

The BOTB Application should be submitted to info@proportsmouth.org along with any online performance links or mail materials to: Portsmouth, P.O. Box 967, Portsmouth, NH, 03802 by Nov. 16.

Bands are competing for the opportunity to perform on the Pleasant Street Stage at the 36th Annual Market Square Day which takes place on Saturday, June 8. The First Night 2011 BOTB winning band was Old Abode.

For more information on the group, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.proportsmouth.org or contact Barbara Massar at 603-433-4398.